The Law of Letting Go

24 Years ago there was a block buster film released entitled “The Lion King”

In the story the young Simba is destined for greatness, but he struggle with fear in the face of tremendous threats and challenges.

Simba is devestated and angry when his father, Mufasa is killed.

He blames himself for a while, until he comes to himself.

At a crucial point on his Journey Mufasa’s voice speaks to young Simba

He says these 4 simple words..

Remember Who You Are

Somethimes remembering who you are is easier said than done.

Remembering who you are can be difficult because our self image is deeply rooted in our past experiences and relationships.

Hurtful words and events we swept under the rug continue to affect us and sometimes we’re unaware.

My Past Does Not Define Me

They hinder us from giving ouselves fully to relationships that God has ordai

It impacted me but it does not dictate my present or my future.

There’s a story about a man in the bible I think we can all relate to on some level.

tells the story of Jephthah.

Jepthah is a symbol of everyone who struggles with strained relationships

From his inception he faced harsh realities that were out of his control

Jepthah was the son of a distinguished man named Gilead

He was also the son of prostitue.

In a moment of weakness his father visited his mother and out came Jepthah.

Jepthah wasn’t an only child on his Fathers side.

His father was married and the bible says that his wife bore him sons.

the older brothers of Jepthah labeled him as “Illegitimate”.

The bible goes on to say that his brothers drove him out and in they told him “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.”

Jepthah was a constant reminder of Gileads mistake, shame, and pain.

It’s one thing to have private failrues that no one knows about, but how do you do cope when your private failure becomes a public failure.

Everyone knew

Everyone was looking

Everyone was talking

Everyone was passing judgement.

He was a walking representation of Gilead at his worst.

Entertain this thought with me for a moment if you will...

Some of the problems you have faced in your life may not be your fault.

They may have nothing to do with you and everything to do with the fact that you remind people of someone or something painful.

The mother who rejects her own child because of her strained relationship with the father.

The boss who looks over one employee and gives the less qualified employee the promotion because of their skin color.

There are so many issues that we as people have adopted due to pain.

Cultural, Racial, socioeconomic gaps...

All these situations are unfortunate and none of them are your fault.

It’s Not Your Fault

Van Moody says “anytime you are caught in a situation you did not create, you have a choice to make.

When Jepthah was old enough he left his family and went to a place called Tob.

Tob was not a desirable place to live.

It was a safe haven for exiles, murderers, and thieves to live.

Tob proved to be a place of development and destiny for Jepthah.

Jepthah got married, built a home and raised a family in Tob.

He was regarded as a leader by those who lived in Tob.

The people in Tob became his family and gave him what his own family refused to give him.

Jepthah becomes this great Military leader. describes him as “a mighty warrior” but the greatest battle he fought was inside of him.

He had to fight each day knowing that his family never accepted him.

Theres no proof that anyone even took compassion on him.

No indication that anyone felt his pain or tried to understand him.

He became a great man, but he failed to deal with his pain.

He was loved, admired and accepted in Tob, but it wasnt enough because all He longed for was his brothers’ love and acceptance.

We like Jepthah neglect or even sabotage the relationships we have becuase we have supressed the pain of past relationships.

Later in the story you see that his

*Can I help someone today?

Their not your momma, your daddy, former boss, your grandparent, your old neighbor, your big sister, or step brother.

You dont realize that your refusual to deal with your painful past is causing failure in your present and in your future.

This is why we have to make self care and healing a priority.

How can I bee good to you if im no good to myslef?

You’ve got to move beyond your pain into healing

Move from unforgiveness into forgiveness

Move from brokeness into wholeness

If you dont, youll remain wounded and unconciously or subonciously sabotage great relationships.

Let me take a break right here and repeat what God says about you incase you forgot or didnt know.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.

Remember, Jepthah moved to Tob

An interesting note about Jepthah’s move to Tob is that in Hebrew, the word “Tob” actually means “good”.

People may have ridiculed the moves you’ve had to make to get to where you are, But dont blame them

They thought it was a bad move, but it was A GOOD MOVE

It was a Good move for you to change your environnment so you could get your joy back.

It was Good move for you to stop dealing with that person so you could get your peace back.

It was a good move for you turn away from that temptation because God had something better instore for you.

They didnt understand it but it was good.

They couldnt see it, but it was good

David said in  It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

Poor Jepthah

Jepthah could’nt fully settle in to “good” because the unhealed wound in his heart still felt it could only be healed in the environment in which it was inflicted.

His unresolved issues of rejection, shame, and anger that came from the circumstances of his birth, kept his focus locked onto his past.

BUT God had moved him away from all that and offered him a fresh start in a Good Place.

(ROPE EXAMPLE)

Stop grasping for the people and places that have repeatedly failed you and hurt you in the past.

Reach for the people and opportunities God has given you in the good place he’s placed you in.

The Brothers Came Back

Jepthah’s brothers who drove him away from home came to Tob.

The didnt come to apologize for treating him badly.

They didnt come to him because they had matured and recognized that they made a mistake.

They didnt come back because they wanted a relationship with him.

They came because they wanted what Jepthah had: Courage & Militaty leadership skills.

The nation of israel was under attack and the brothers had heard about Jepthah’s victories so they figured theyd ask him to come back home.

Jepthah basically said “Back then you didnt want me, now I’m hot and you all on me.

11:7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”

11:8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead.”

Because Jepthah hadnt taken the necessary steps to deal with the rejection from his brothers, the offer to be in leadership in the community that rejected him was camoflodged as an opportunity for acceptance.

He made the detrimental deision to go with them, leaving behind the Good place God gave him in exchange for his place of pain.

Jepthah’s Great Sacrifice

When People Show you Who They Are, Pay Attention.

Jepthah knew who his brothers were, but he ignored what he had learned through the many years of harsh treatment.

Some people change over time

Some realize they have not treated you well.

Those people apologize sincerely and take the necessary steps to change.

Be careful of the people like Jepthah’s brothers who come back into your life, to get what you have instead of who you are.

If you sense that someone wants your rsources, your connections, your abilities, or your influence, put your defenses up and require them to DEMONSTRATE their intentions.

If Gods brought you to a good place, Guard it!

CLOSE

God has something good for you.

Your past does not deifine you

Regardless of what you have suffered in days or years gone by,

no matter what you have doneor what has been done to you

a bright future is available

As you trust him completely and follow him wholeheartedly, God will lead you into places, opportunities, and relationships that will heal you and set you free from your past.

REMEMBER WHO ARE YOU